Truss-pad.



PATENTED JAN. 13, 1903.

W. C. WETMORE.

' TRUSS PAD.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1901.

K0 MODEL.

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"ATENT, OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. VETMORE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

TRUSS-PAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,408, dated January13, 1903.

Application filed December '7, 1901. Serial No. 85,090. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM O.WETMORE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Truss-Pads; and I dohereby declare the following, when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to lthe letters of reference marked thereon,which are to be considered .as forming a part of this specification. y

My invention provides for the improvement of that class of truss-padswhich are inliated with air or water; and it has for its object theproduction of a pad which is cool and light and Which will effectivelyretain the se- Verest hernia with comfort.

Another object is to provide a truss-pad which will hold all forms 0fhernia, forming itself to the exact shape of the body and presenting aneven rear face without projecting parts, which invariably damage theclothing of the wearer and are also entangled therewith, causing the padto be displaced.

Other objects are to provide an inflatable pad in which the valve-stemis confined in a pocket provided therefor and which can be made toproject from said pocket through the rear wall of the pad forconvenience in inflating the same and to provide a protuberance orprojection on the face of the pad which is designed to enter the cavityor depression on the person which has been found to exist in some cases.

The invention consists in the new and im proved arrangement andcombination of-parts and in the particular construction thereof, as willhe hereinafter pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a face View of the truss-pad. yFig. 2 is a rear view of the same, the plate or cover being removed.Fig. 3 is a section taken on a plane indicated by line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig.4t is a section taken on a plane indicated by line 4t 4, Fig. 3.

Ain the several iigures.

The letter A designates the forming plate or frame, which is shaped intothe form it is desired that the pad should be made, and arranged thereinis an elongated opening a.

B designates the elastic or inflatable bulb, which may be ini-lated withwater, air, or any other suitable agency. It is formed to substantiallythe shape of the forming plate or frame A and has a cavity or pocket bon its fiat side and a protuberance h' on its curved or convex side. Atthe point where the protuberance is formed from the inflatable bulb B itis provided with a contracted neck b2, in which the connecting-passageb3 is formed, which latter connects the hollow protuberance with saidbulb. This passage in practice is made very small, and therefore permitsthe protuberance to be greatly distended without proportionatelyincreasing the size of the neck. A valve-stem C is formed on the bulb atone end of the cavity or pocket b and normally assumes a position at anangle to the said [iat side thereof, as shown in doti ted lines, Fig. 3.

Interposed between the bulbB and the forming plate or frameis aninterliningD of leather or other suitable material to prevent injury tothe bulb by constant pressure and rubbing on the plate A and also toprevent the screws which enter the forming-plate from coming in contactwith the said bulb. This interlining is of substantially the same formas the flat side of the bulb which it protects, and ithas an aperture Eformed therein, through which the valve-stem C projects.

F designates a covering or inclosure made of non-elastic material or ofmaterial having less elasticity than the inflatable bulb confinedtherein, but which by preference is made of soft leather out to thedesired shape and sewed or otherwise arranged to completely inclose thebulb and forming-plate A except at two' points, Where it is providedwith apertures ff', respectively. The aperture j' is preferably ofcircularv form, through which the protuberance h' on the bulb mayproject, while the aperture f is elongated and of corresponding shapeand size to the aperture a in-the forming-plate, with which itcoincides.

IOO

A plate Gr is secured to the fiat side of the pad, serving as a coverfor the cavity or pocket in which the valve-stem is confined and also asa means to which the belt-straps or springbands usually employed to holdtruss-pads in place may be attached by means of screws or any othersuitable arrangement.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4E, the valve-stem is held in the cavity orpocket by placing the outer end of the same underneath the forming plateor frame A, and in order to inflate the bulb it is sim ply necessary toremove the plate G and release the outer end of the valvestem, when itwill assume a position at an angle to the flat side of the bulb, asshown in Fig. 3, in which position it projects through the elongatedapertures in the plate A and inclosure F, permitting the bulb to beinflated with ease and allowing also of the use of a Valve Within thestem.

In such cases where the protuberance on the pad is desirable the pad isapplied to the person before being inflated and the protuberance in itscollapsed condition is placed in the cavity on the person. The bulbisthen inflated, which causes the protuberance to distend and till thecavity on the person, thus properly holding the rupture and eliminatingall pain. The contracted neck b2 permits the protuberance to fill thecavity on a person without crowding the flesh at the entrance thereof,and at the .same time permits the pad to act efficiently against theparts surrounding the cavity.

It is evident that without departing from the scope of my invention theelastic bulb may be formed without the protuberance, as it may bereduced in thickness at the point it is desired the protuberance shouldbe located, and when being inflated that portion reduced in thicknesswill be forced through the aperture in the inclosure F, thus forming theprotuberance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. In a trusspad, aninflatable bulb having a protuberance projecting therefrom andcommunicating therewith by an intervening contracted passage,substantially as set forth.

2. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having an inflatableprotuberance, and

a covering for said bulb, said covering being non-elastic or of lesselasticity than said bulb and having an aperture through which saidprotuberance projects, substantially as set forth.

3. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having an inflatablecommunicating protuberance and a non-elastic covering having an aperturethrough which said protuberance projects, substantially as set forth.

4. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem anda cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate orframe having an aperture through which said valve-stem may projectwheninflating the bulb, said plate or frame serving to hold the stern in thesaid cavity, and a second plate serving as a cover to close the saidaperture, substantially as set forth.

5. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem anda cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate orframe having an elongated aperture arranged in line with the valve-stemand underneath which the outer end of' said valvestem is held, aninclosu re surrounding the inflatable bulb and the said plate, andhaving an aperture coinciding with the aperture in the latter, and aplate serving as a cover and also as means to secure belt-strapsthereto, substantially as set forth.

6. A truss-pad consisting of an inflatable bulb having a valve-stem anda cavity or pocket in which said valve-stem is confined, a plate orframe having an elongated aperture which is arranged in line with thevalvestem and underneath which the outer end of Vitnesses:

CHAS. A. BURKHART, EMIL NEUHART.

